A new London bus driver typically starts at around £14 to £15 an hour. That’s about £28,000 to £31,000 a year before overtime. Not bad for sitting down and yelling “Mind the gap,” right?
But wait—experience boosts that number fast. After a few years, many drivers hit £17 to £18 an hour. Top earners can pull in £38,000 to £40,000 annually. That’s more than a lot of desk jobs with zero traffic jams.
And here’s the kicker: overtime is massive. Some drivers work 50–60 hours a week and clear £50,000. Yes, fifty thousand pounds. For driving a bus. Respect.
But What About the Perks? Oh, the Perks!
Money is just the start. London bus drivers get free travel on all TfL services. That’s buses, tubes, trams—even the Emirates cable car. Imagine never paying for a tube again.
They also get a generous pension (often defined benefit). Sick pay? Yep. Holiday pay? 28 days minimum. It’s a union-negotiated paradise.
And the best perk? No one asks you for a spreadsheet. Your office is the open road. Your soundtrack? The glorious rumble of a diesel engine.
